Preliminary landmark status means that any permit filed in the preliminary period is subject to review by Landmarks. Generally it means nothing can be altered in the period of consideration, which can last up to a year. This does not mean that final designation will protect the facade, lobby, and auditorium. Indeed, the Village Art (Germania) and Biograph both are landmarked but nothing past the facade is protected.

Maybe it was Belmont Park, then, but the theater itself was north of the Belmont Park border (Belmont, Laramie, Diversey, and the Northwestern Tracks). What I meant was that Belmont Park is not an official Neighborhood or Community Area name, but a subdivision within a neighborhood.

I searched for that phrase. It’s all about context. Illinois had rapidly dwindling coal supplies at the beginning of May 1946 due to a coal strike, and theaters could operate only from 2-6pm; all commerce & industry was affected. This wasn’t good business generally, so most shut their doors until the rule was changed May 10 to normal hours Fri-Sun and closed otherwise. The strike was resolved and things went back to normal minus display and ornamental lights on May 11. The theaters whose ads said “we make our own power” “our own electric power” “Open under our own power from today onwards” “we have our own power plant” had generators, or generated their own power from oil or incinerators.